Just over 3 weeks ago, we witnessed the official launch of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, affectionately, derisively, or at least familiarly known as Obamacare. Thanks largely to an unbelievably inauspicious, if not torturous web management enterprise; the President’s signature domestic initiative likely could not have started on shakier footing.
Perhaps, if there was one infinitesimal
element or redeeming feature related to the October
1, 2013 debut of Obamacare, the
thing that comes to mind is that because of inexplicable Congressional machination, the GOP/Tea
Party forced a shutdown of the federal government. Consequently, major media outlets, while
giving a modicum of coverage to the
failed state of Obamacare program
kick-off dynamics, was immersed in exhaustive day-to-day coverage of the government
shutdown.
In basic terms, it is my
opinion that the hoopla attendant to the website morass is vastly overstated.
Yes, of course it is significant.
Obamacare is, after all,
characterized as that one domestic accomplishment that the President’s critics call his “only” accomplishment, before they
quickly add that it would never have come to pass, were it not for a Democratic Supermajority in Congress, as no Republicans voted for it.
Even supporters concede it is likely to be the legislative mandate that
will be most closely associated with the future Obama legacy.
Still, the web rollout is,
in and of itself, not Obamacare. It is simply a means to an end. It is an important means, to be sure. Ideally, it would be the most efficient,
effective, and often used means.
Ultimately, it may still be all of the above.
First, let us note, the
rollout is not a one-day, a one-week, or even a one-month event. Prospective customers, or patients if you
prefer the language from the legislation, have until March 2014 to sign-up during the period of Open Enrollment. There is
every indication the web portal may be fully functional before then. Moreover, there are other means to access the
program, including individual State
exchanges (in States other than those
in which intransigent Republican
Governors have refused to allow the program), and egad, by picking up the phone and calling to sign-up.
This brief statement is, not
by any means, intended to downplay the seriousness of the flawed web rollout of
Obamacare. Rather, it is a suggestion to one-and-all not
to throw out the baby with the bath water.
Partisan political agendas aside, there are problems…and they are
resolvable. The Administration is pushing ahead to that end…and the President’s opponents are working just
as fervently to derail the efforts. In
the final analysis, the marketplace will decide the outcome.
Having watched much of the
discourse unfold around this initiative, I must admit, I find a couple of
recent revelations…well, perplexing. Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius, who has oversight responsibility for the rollout of Obamacare, in a CNN interview with Dr. SonjayGupta, said two things that will undoubtedly draw lots of intense
reaction. She indicated that HHS is bringing in the “A Team,” in an attempt to resolve the
problems. She also asserted that President Obama was not made aware of
the nature and scope of the problems with the website until two or three days
in.
I have only one word…”uneff’nbelievable!” That is all.
Interestingly, it is the
policy implications of this law that really matter. The website discussion is small ball, but
low-hanging fruit that Senator Cruz
and his Tea Party crew found
irresistible. The Senator has threatened to pull a déjà vu move early next year, and play the shut down the
government/threaten a default card, all over again. Alternately, Senator Mitch McConnell has said, essentially, “It ain’t gonna
happen!” So goes the schizophrenia of
the GOP.
Meanwhile we continue to
consider…”Patient Protection &Affordable Care Act: The Much Ballyhooed Website Debacle!”
I’m done; holla back!
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For more detailed
information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101124856
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